         
NEWS
May 2009
"Travesty Dance Group, in the capable and gifted hands of Karpanty’s and Stokes’, delivered an evening of innovative works, enhanced by the creative lighting of Cruz, and given strong voice by the multi-talented ensemble of dancers. From two cities, these artists united to successfully create an evening with one purpose: the offering of a full gamut of works inspiring artistic reflection, resurgence and renewal."
-Barbara Verlezza, CoolCLeveland
April 2009
"(Travesty Dance Group) is a terrific group of artists whose work compliments and contrasts one another in exploring the human condition with both sensitivity and humor. True to the stated mission of the company, the works performed at Weathervane (Ohio) examined the complexities of contemporary society and provided joyful moments of affirmation."
-Andrea Shearer, Dance Source Houston
December 2008
"(Stokes) is ripe with fun, evident like a full moon, in her newest evening, Portables, performed December 11, 12, & 13 . . . Raw Silk is Stokes 101: buoyant, mysterious in meaning, intricate in the “voguing” movement and hip hop iconography . . . Orange pulls off the trick of being weird and brash, as the company in black industrial jumpsuits gets down and personal with big juicy oranges."
-David Groover, Dance Source Houston
December 2008
"In Distreston, Stokes’ projected backdrop of black-eyed faces and ruined castles, plus lush period costumes and rich lighting by Christina Giannelli create an appealingly eerie atmosphere . . . Stokes makes the most of the tremble of her own sweet soprano (in her solo), at Thursday’s opening, she danced and sang with lovely vulnerability . . . Travesty’s dancers are an athletic, cohesive group . . . they dance generously and with good humor – especially in Sorbet, a palate-cleansing frolic of a finale." -Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle
November 2008
"Rebecca Malcom-Naib, of Philadelphia, illustrates worlds of social and political caricature through telephone obsession and political deception; whereas, Kim Karpanty, of Cleveland, shows structural play, posing words as directives and contrasting the fluidity of Simonson technique against gestural, even animal-like, movements . . . Stokes uses a fresh approach to movement and a keen sense of music . . . the professionalism of all these versatile dancers creates a true ensemble piece." -Ellen Gerdes on Imagined Realities in Philadelphia
June 2008
"Karen Stokes was awarded the 2008 Buffy Award in Choreography for outstanding evening length work in Houston 2005-2008 for HOMETOWN & the 2008 Performing & Visual Arts Ross M. Lence Teaching Award at University of Houston"
May 2008
"Stokes is known for work that evokes a sense of place . . . the specific location of Green remains elusive, the dance gives the impression of being outside. For example, the unpredictability of nature is represented in the second half of the work, which has a wild, Lord of the Flies flavor. Stokes inserts an edge of seriousness here." -Nancy Wozny, Houston Chronicle
October 2007
"Karen’s works are known in Houston for quirky movement, storytelling, and vocalizations – be they spoken or sung . . . Stokes’ tests her dancers to the limits in technique, skill, concentration, and stamina. She tests her audience members as well, creating works that actively engage the mind as well as entertain. And she’s doing it again this weekend in "Framing Dance," an interactive educational performance at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts." -Toni Valle, ArtsHouston Blog
February 2007
"BAD Q! & Other Strange MaNEWvers lived up to Travesty's reputation for presenting quirky and intelligent modern dance ... "Green" was a delightful, intelligent, technically proficient piece and an outstanding work by Karen Stokes ... kudos to Stokes and Travesty's talented and determined dancers for their dedication to this challenging work." -Andrea Cody, Dance Source Houston
June 2007
At Big Range Dance Festival: "Karen Stokes' Preludes to Three Temperaments blasts open the quirky world of human gesture ... the piece plays like a careful study of eccentricity—charming, deep with delight, and elegantly rendered by these three diverse movers." -Nancy Wozny, Dance Source Houston
April 2007:
"Karpanty’s ensemble work, “Stairway,” is set against fantastical
nature themed projections by John Cochran . . . “Call Waiting” by
Malcolm-Naib, draws on the angst of waiting for the right caller to
call of for the call that never comes." -Ian Snow, Cleveland
Free Times
March 2006
About HOMETOWN: "Stokes is on a roll. She’s a versatile choreographer who is not afraid of difficult or tender subjects. I will be curious to see where she takes her song and dance act as she moves into her next project. She has a troupe of songbird dancers that seemed to embrace the stretch. Houston may be known as the birthplace of the modern dance musical."
-Nancy Goleota-Wozny, Dance Source Houston
October 2005
"Three was our favorite for its coherence,
humor and exuberant dancing...Travesty had demonstrated
their ability to handle content."
-Lucas and Johnson, CoolCleveland.com
October 2005
"Three talented choreographers were fellow faculty members at Kent State University nine years ago when the formed Travesty Dance Group. Now, Kim Karpanty, Rebecca Malcolm-Naib, and Karen Stokes live and teach in three different cities. Their concert last weekend at Cleveland Public Theater affirmed the validity of their geographically challenged ensemble."
-Wilma Sallisbury, Cleveland Plain Dealer
September 2005
"The inspirational image of a figure emerging from despair as a faltering voice spoke of gratitude and hope was created and danced by Karpanty, faculty member at Kent State University and a choreographer with something significant to say. "
-Wilma Sallisbury, Cleveland Plain Dealer
June 2005
"Time Trials (by Rebecca Malcolm-Naib) mixes lush music and moves in a stirring duet... A large clock, center stage, sets a serious and time centered mood. A generous driving pulse fuels the action, while both dance with a punctuated clarity making each movement appear final and complete. … (The) vivid score supported Malcolm-Naib's highly detailed and ornate choreography."
-Nancy Goleota-Wozny, Dance Source Houston
June 2005
"Kimberly Karpanty opens her solo, Private Dominion, suspended in mid-air, mid-fall, traveling floorward. …Elegant moments of suspension and support alternate with sweeping moves across the floor. A delicious sequence where Karpanty's hand crawls out from its hidden sleeve left me curious about this handless maiden (in) Karpanty's handsome performance."
-Nancy Goleota-Wozny, Dance Source Houston
June 2005
"The cast (Pronoun Pieces), all wonderful,
danced with verve and guts, and a willingness
to enter the "unpretty"...I felt a
Dickensonian glimpse of what’s to come if things
don’t change.
If that’s the case, Stokes nailed it...This is
a deep and dark work, rich with startling movement
and sinister images of a place you might never
want to visit."
-Nancy Goleota-Wozny, Dance Source Houston
June 2005
"The Pronoun Pieces, Karen Stokes’ new 45-minute dance theater work for 10 performers and several wheeled tailor’s forms, is an intriguing meditation on states of the self."
-Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle
July 2004
"Four hooded female dancers, dressed in
tattered, jester-like orange rags, partnered
with three dress forms on wheels...a surreal
effect...Rhythmic
pulsing with angular arm gestures gave the dance
a sinister yet earthy feel…Stokes left us wondering
and curious to know more."
-Nancy Goleota-Wozny, ArtsHouston (about Stokes’ We)
September 2003
"Stokes’ full-length HOMETOWN was a big
hit last summer and these two excerpts were among
its most charming...Bayou’s turn of the century
nostalgia, playful movement and fun use of fabric
(as a hammock, a canoe and a jump rope) were
all a real pleasure to re-visit."
-Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle (about performance at Texas Contemporary Dance, Miller Outdoor Theater)
June 2003
"If the best dances are inspired by what is close to the heart, Stokes is passionate about where she came from. She was able to make native Estonians and those who aren’t from here aware of how diverse her hometown is."
-Christie Taylor, ArtsHouston (about Stokes’ HOMETOWN)
June 2003
"Stokes' "modern dance musical" is
a pastiche of expertly woven dances, songs and
spoken text and familiar themes in unexpected
ways. HOMETOWN is by turns nostalgic, funny,
thought provoking and deeply affecting...There
are no fat jokes...Stokes paints with a bigger
brush, aiming to convey a sense of place and
perspective that make the city seem almost mythical."
-Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle
October 2002
"Okla Module (by Karen Stokes) was ultra-cool and ultra-amusing. Wearing black sunglasses, Stokes clad in a silver skirt and Brent Smith in a matching silver shirt…alighted behind two microphone stands and began to sing a quite credible rendition of "Oh what a beautiful Mornin’" from Oklahoma!…The tour de force came as they sang backwards, the music ending with "OH!" They seemed puzzled and pleased with their feat, and ended with a delirious dance."
-Margaret Putnam, The Dallas Morning News
October 2002
""Airheart" (by Rebecca Malcolm-Naib) owed something to the story of Amelia Earhart’s doomed flight, and everything to the upward reaching, fluid movements of the eight white-clad dancers, which suggested flight and even disaster without anything coy or silly. Water in motion is the only way to describe "Cascadence." The ripple, roll and surge of the dancers’ bodies couldn’t have been anything else. Dance is this lady’s true element."
-Margaret Putnam, The Dallas Morning News
August 2002
TDG performed the excerpted version of THREE at the Toronto Fring Festival for Independent Dance Artists where they were called "imaginative," "clever" and "amusing" by the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
July 2000
"THREE, a witty evening length dance piece
that investigates the multitudinous meanings
and manifestations of the number "three," shifts
from irreverent comedy to honest emotion. THREE's
fresh and wacky choreography feels remarkable
unified, as if sprung from a single source."
-Lisa Jo Sagolla, Backstage, New York (Regarding TDG founders co-created evening length work THREE)
September 1999
"The premiere of Perhaps by Tomorrow at
Miller Outdoor Theater on Friday offered strong
proof that Houston's contemporary dance community
is now full of promise. Karen Stokes' evocative
work - a highlight of Texas Contemporary Dance
- was conceptually mature and beautifully crafted."
-Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle
September 1999
"The Highlight of the weekend was the premiere of Perhaps By Tomorrow. Stokes’ multi-media work refuses to be pigeon-holed in a category of the past—which is exactly what we need more of in the future."
-Lauren Kern, Houston Press
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